The Avenue develops the young workforce of the future

Dawn Renton

The Avenue Shopping Centre in Newton Mearns has launched the first ever shopping centre workplace initiative order to educate primary school children on the benefits of working in retail.

Designed specifically for primary and nursery school children, the initiative aims to introduce children to the fun experience of working in retail as well as giving some understanding of the industry by spending time with the national retailers based within the busy shopping centre.

The initiative, has been developed by Michelle McCabe, The Avenue Centre manager.

She said: “We believe the project is the first of its kind being undertaken within a shopping centre setting for primary school children and The Avenue is incredibly proud to be able to offer children within our local community the chance to experience such an immersive and interactive experience.

“We have put this scheme in place to help local children and young people gain the knowledge, skills and attributes needed for life in the 21st century to support them in becoming successful learners, building confidence, and become effective contributors to society later in life.

“The children will learn valuable skills and lessons for work, school and life through hands on work experience including visual merchandising, cash handling, customer service and property management. We are now looking forward to working with East Renfrewshire Council to continue to expand and build on the project throughout 2018.”

The project facilitates a half hour lesson for pupils from every age group from nursery to 11 years old. Every child at Mearn’s Primary School will take part in a half an hour lesson hosted by various national and independent retailers, including the Specsavers store at the centre.

Nishma Patel, store manager at Specsavers Newton Mearns, said: “It has been great welcoming the Primary Three children from Mearns Primary into the store, teaching them about eyecare and about the job of an optician.

“The children have had the chance to try on glasses; view photographs of the back of the eye and also see and touch contact lenses.

It has been lovely to see their bright young minds fascinated by what we have been showing them and we think the programme is really beneficial in giving them real life exposure into the world of work.”

Primary 1’s from Mearns Primary School visited the centre’s ASDA store throughout October and November and took part in the first Avenue lesson’s. Key retail skills such as working the till, product placement and cash handling were covered in the lesson. M&S recently completed Primary 6 Dragon’s Den style presentations helping them with their confidence and Waterstones worked with a Primary 2 class on the alphabet.

Sharon Hunter, Headteacher at Mearns Primary, said: “The local community provision that the Avenue has offered our school has greatly improved the motivation and engagement of all our learners from P1 to P7. We have thoroughly enjoyed working collaboratively with our retail partners in developing creative and innovative approaches that promote the Developing the Young Workforce national agenda. The children have developed and used transferrable enterprising skills which will prepare them for learning, life and work and their future careers.”